Question 1

What is the cost of living in Georgetown, Delaware?

Accepted Answer

The cost of living in Georgetown, Delaware runs about 11% above the national average as of 2026 but remains competitive for the mid-Atlantic region. Median home sale prices are $350,000 to $400,000. Rent varies by unit size — one-bedrooms typically run $1,450 to $1,600, two-bedrooms $1,700 to $2,250, and three-bedrooms $2,100 and up. Day-to-day costs are reasonable with meals at local restaurants around $17 and monthly utilities averaging $137.

Question 2

Does Delaware have sales tax?

Accepted Answer

No. Delaware has zero sales tax — not reduced, not on certain items. Everything you buy, from groceries to a new car, has no sales tax added. For a family spending $40,000 to $60,000 a year on taxable goods, that's $2,400 to $3,600 saved compared to living in a state with 6% sales tax.

Question 3

How much are property taxes in Sussex County, Delaware?

Accepted Answer

Property taxes in Sussex County are among the lowest in the entire country — the effective rate is approximately 0.35% following the 2025 county-wide reassessment. On a $350,000 home, that's roughly $1,225 per year. Compare that to New Jersey (average $8,000+), Pennsylvania ($4,000+), or Maryland ($3,000+) on the same value home.

Question 4

How far is Georgetown, Delaware from the beach?

Accepted Answer

Georgetown is about 25 minutes from Rehoboth Beach and Lewes. Ocean City, Maryland is about 35 minutes away. Dover, the state capital, is 45 minutes north. Georgetown is centrally located in Sussex County, so nothing in lower Delaware is far.

Question 5

What school district is Georgetown, Delaware in?

Accepted Answer

Georgetown falls within the Indian River School District, which operates Georgetown Elementary and serves students through middle and high school. Delaware also has a school choice program that allows families to apply to schools outside their home district.

Question 6

Is Georgetown, Delaware a good place to retire?

Accepted Answer

Georgetown is popular with retirees due to Delaware's tax advantages: no sales tax, very low property taxes (around 0.35% effective rate, approximately $1,225/year on a $350K home), no tax on Social Security benefits, a $12,500 exclusion on pension and retirement income, a new $6,000 senior deduction ($12,000 married) effective 2025, no inheritance tax for immediate family, and no personal property tax. The area offers affordable housing relative to the coast with beaches just 25 minutes away.

Question 7

What is the weather like in Georgetown, Delaware?

Accepted Answer

Georgetown has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. Summers have highs in the mid-80s with humidity. Winters range from mid-30s to mid-50s during the day. The area gets about 12 inches of snow per year and roughly 204 sunny days annually. Average rainfall is about 45 inches per year.

Question 8

What is Return Day in Georgetown, Delaware?

Accepted Answer

Return Day is a biennial post-election tradition unique to Georgetown, Delaware where political opponents literally bury a hatchet. It's part parade, part political ritual, part reunion, and part reminder that public disagreement is supposed to return to neighborly life. It has been held in Georgetown since the early days of Sussex County.

Georgetown and Sussex County, Delaware